8/10/2015

I'm a huge fan of Korean food and any type of Asian fusion. I have been here 4 times now, I figured it's time to write a review. The vibe is great, love the atmosphere, everyone is generally very friendly.

BUT THE FOOD... phenomenal. The shrimp tacos, kalbi tacos, kalbi poutine, and chicken wings are my usual and I'll say they never disappoint. All the dishes are perfectly balanced with sweet and spiciness.. wash it all down with a cold Lagunitas IPA- perfection.

Definitely a must try. Enjoy!

8/10/2015

What a great way to spice up tacos!

I ordered the blackened tofu and shrimp tacos. Both were jam packed with flavor and left my taste buds very satisfied! The tofu taco was especially good, while the shrimp was decent - not very fresh and I wasn't personally a fan of the aioli sauce it was dipped in..a little to creamy for my taste. But overall, all ingredients in both tacos worked together pleasingly well!

Only had two tacos and I was full (usually I'll order 3-4)..my meal came out to ~$7 which is a great deal.

I did not have anything other than tacos but dad was also highly satisfied with his tofu hotpot.

Order at the register and your meal is delivered to you. Pretty quick service and easy enough.

Happy that I live close by to this place. I'm sure I'll frequent it a lot!

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  Shrimp and tofu tacos (top and bottom respectively)

  Shrimp and tofu tacos (top and bottom respectively)

8/9/2015

I'm a huge fan of tacos and Korean food so this Asian fusion place fit to my liking. It has a comfy, hippy feel to it and the food is authentic. I got the spicy shrimp and kalbi tacos which I think are the two best. The spicy shrimp wasn't spicy, but tasted a little sweet.

I would recommend getting the tacos at this place.

8/9/2015

Screw everything else. Get the Fish Tacos with sambal. OMG

Such a great find! Being from California, I have high expectations of Korean-Mexican fusion. I miss my beloved Kogi Truck, so Del Seoul was able to fill that small void in my heart with their amazing tacos. At around $3 - $5 depending on the taco, you get a very solid meal with all the right fixings.

However, I can't say enough how delicious the FISH TACO was. It completely overshadowed the bulgolgi and kalbi tacos I ordered, which were fine, but irrelevant compared to the fish. There aren't a lot of places that use sambal as an ingredient, so you are in for a treat. This Southeast Asian chili paste will make you go woot woot, and the taco is where it's at.

Seriously, I am getting hungry just thinking about this damn taco.

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  Sambal Fish Taco (THE BEST), and kalbi tacos

  Sambal Fish Taco (THE BEST), and kalbi tacos

8/5/2015 Updated review

All about the korean tacos. The shrimp taco remains the star, over the kalbi taco. Honestly, I'd recommend one to order shrimp tacos with kalbi poutine fries.  Soooo yummy. It's the perfect sweet, savory, creamy combination. I dabble with sriracha, of course.

I keep meaning to try other K-fare, like the dumplings, and bibimbop... but really, when I think of this spot, I think of a quick, delicious bite. Not a lengthy sitdown spot, especially considering most seating is chairs only. I like booths and cushy seats for chatty dinner dates.  

They cater to the clientele in the area, offering a selection of beer and wine to pair with K-food goodness. You can have stuff from pinot noir, to soda, to a Vandermill's apply raspberry cider. I feel like food quality does suffer if you happen to come in during prime dinner time, or a rush.  A line can swiftly build, but I think this spot generally  handles service well.

Well worth a try! I still have to give it a 5 because I haven't found a place like it that could replace it.

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  Shrimp and Kalbi taco

  Shrimp and Kalbi taco
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  Kalbi poutine

  Kalbi poutine

7/2/2015

Korean fusion, Del Seoul just didn't capture my soul.

After booking my visit to Chicago, I knew that I would have to look up all the must eats in Chicago. Frequently I found the tacos and the poutine to be some of the highly recommended dishes to try at Del Seoul. So I bookmarked it and set off to try Korean fusion (something I've never had before!).

It was actually pretty crowded when I arrived, but we were able to get a table. You order at the front and then seat yourself. The food will be brought out to you. Utensils and napkins are found in the right hand corner, and you also bus your own table afterwards.

I ordered the shrimp taco, kalbi taco and the street dumplings. The street dumplings are a popular item here because of it's 100 year old recipe. I didn't get the kalbi poutine, but I probably should have.

The food came out promptly and I was pretty excited to try Korean tacos. The shrimp taco was amazing! It was dripping in sauce so just be aware that eating these tacos won't leave you looking like a beauty. I just loved how plump the shrimp was and the sauce that they had used. The veggies add a nice little crunch and of course the soft tortilla makes the greatest vessel. Now the kalbi tacos were the ones that got the most hype on some of the food websites I looked at. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. Now I love KBBQ and kalbi is a must have. But I just didn't feel like the kalbi was shining very much in the taco. It really just tasted like julienned kalbi and tortilla. It tastes fine - just not outstanding.

Now came the 100 year old recipe of street dumplings. It comes in a little steamer and there are 8 plump little dumplings that come with soy sauce. I was pretty excited since it's a customer favorite but was left wondering why this was a fan favorite. These dumplings were cooked perfectly and the filling was meaty but it just tasted like a steamed dumpling to me. I didn't feel myself saying "Mm! These are so amazing!" I really felt like I could have gone without. None the less, dumplings are dumplings so they were still pretty good to eat. I just thought I would be more amazed since it's such an old recipe and raved about.

All in all, I could see Korean fusion work if done right. I didn't feel like my experience here shined through. It was still a good place to get a bite to eat with a bit of comfort to it.

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  Street dumplings

  Street dumplings
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  Kalbi and shrimp tacos

  Kalbi and shrimp tacos

7/27/2015

I think the best food that I've had on my Chicago trip was in Del Seoul! My favorite was their famous K-town Chicken wings. It was a bit spicy for me but there's so much flavor in it. The sauce was made with sweet soy chili and garlic glaze... Oh my.. Thinking about it makes me drool already. We also tried their famous kimchi fries, it was awesome! My friend told me that the beer that he ordered was good, probably it complimented the flavor of the wings.

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  Kalbi & shrimp taco

  Kalbi & shrimp taco
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  Kimchi fries

  Kimchi fries
• See all photos from Katrina L. for Del Seoul

6/14/2015

Walked here after visiting the Lincoln Park zoo and was pretty hungry. I thought it was a sit down restaurant, but you order at the counter, get a number and they bring your food out to you.

I ordered the street style dumplings and the ktown chicken wings. The chicken wings are glazed in a thick sweet chilli sauce that was pretty spicy. I had to brush off some of the spice flakes. But they were really good, and the addicting spicy where you had to keep eating it. The dumplings were on the doughy side, but the filling was just so so. However I loved how they were served on top of the boiled tops.

overall, a great chill spot for some korean food!

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  Street dumplings

  Street dumplings
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  Chicken wings

  Chicken wings

7/19/2015

Del Seoul has got to be one of my most absolute favorite places! I've been here more than a couple times and it never fails to leave me satisfied!

The area it's located in is perfect. There's a wide variety of food and shops all around. If you want dessert afterwards, Molly's cupcakes is literally a couple shops down. You could even make the hike to the corner for some Snow Dragon Shaved Ice if you wanted! Anyways, Del Seoul is a pretty chill place with chill music. You just order and sit anywhere you like. It's never been packed when I've gone, and food comes out really fast. The workers are always super friendly and patient.

On the last visit, I had the kalbi taco and the shrimp taco. I always get the shrimp taco so I'd highly recommend that. You'd think the kalbi taco would be more flavorful, but in my opinion it isn't (and I love kalbi). I had the kimchi fries, but for a couple dollars more you could get the kalbi poutine. I prefer the poutine over the kimchi fries but both are good nonetheless (although a little heavy). And when I'm really hungry, I almost always get the bulgogi bento box. I don't usually get bulgogi when I go to a Korean restaurant but for some reason, it's really good here. It comes with a small salad and some rice.

Everything on the menu is so affordable and you can get a lot of food for not much at all. For some reason, I tend to overspend when I come here. Don't be afraid to try anything new because everything I've had from here has been on point. Even though there are a lot of restaurants around this area, I'm always down for some Del Seoul!

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  Shrimp and kalbi tacos.

  Shrimp and kalbi tacos.
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  Bulgogi bento box.

  Bulgogi bento box.
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  Kimchi fries!

  Kimchi fries!

7/28/2015

Boy oh Boy! Everything I ordered here was indubitably delicious! From the delicately battered fish tacos to the perfectly seasoned kimchi fries!  The flavors formed a beautiful medley for every mouthful.  

The Sambal Fish Taco was probably my favorite item here.  The Sambal Aoli the taco was dressed with really added an extra kick to each bite.  The Bulgogi Bahn Mi however was lacking some heat. It would have been a bit more enjoyable if it had a couple of slices of jalapenos. The Kimchi Fries were bomb.com! I love that they didn't skimp on any of the sauces, spices, or meat.

5/25/2015

The sesame-chili shrimp taco ($2.99) is advertised as their best taco.

It is. It's a perfect mix of crunchy lettuce in soft tortillas keeping the sweet and spicy shrimp company. Yummmmmm.

Also worth your notice? All the other tacos. My youngest enjoyed the kalbi tacos because they involved his favorite meat without the bones. The kimchi fries are also worth every calorie. I would prefer spicier kimchi, but I can't completely reject the blend of kimchi, tender pork belly, green onions ON TOP OF HOT FRIES!!!

We also had the dumplings and kalbi bento box. Both good, but not the best we've had because homemade Korean always takes the cake. However, if you have a pickier eater you won't go wrong with these two items.

5/28/2015

I can't say I've ever had Korean BBQ tacos so this place definitely piqued my interest. Food was decent, but didn't blow me away. I had the shrimp taco (advertised as their best) and spicy pork BBQ taco. I'm not too sure why the shrimp is considered their best because all I tasted was the tortilla and the lettuce thrown on top. The shrimp is noticeably flavorless. The pork was better.

However, the star of the show is definitely the kalbi poutine! I was drooling the second I laid eyes on this beauty. The fries were perfectly done and had just the right amount of onions, scallions and tender kalbi!! They could have easily just thrown on a few pieces of kalbi, but I was so happy they didn't skimp on the meat! I was fighting off my friend so I could have more.

If I lived in Chicago, I know I would come back for more. When I left, I was pretty full but that didn't stop me from eyeing the delicious looking bento boxes other people ordered.

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  Delicious kalbi poutine

  Delicious kalbi poutine
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  BBQ pork tacos

  BBQ pork tacos

4/26/2015

KIMCHI FRIES! This is my favorite new discovery all year. Fries, kimchi, pork belly, melted cheddar and jack, sour cream, and scallions. Holy shit. I've fallen in love with Korean Fusion fries.

This place was on my hit list for this Chicago trip. When we approached the entrance of the place the door threw me off. The little weather shield things were annoying to get through the front door. Inside the restaurant was pretty empty aside from two tables with customers, that was a little worrisome, but it was only 4pm.

Looked like a pretty laid back place. You order at the counter, take a number, and grab a table. We went with the kimchi fries, and one sesame-chili shrimp taco to share, and a couple of beers, $21, not bad.

My boyfriend tried the fries first, he said he didn't want to comment on it until I tried it for myself. Judging by how many times he went back to scoop more into his mouth, I knew it was good. It was insanely good, the kimchi did not overpower at all. Try this shit.

The taco was damn good too. There was an explosion of flavor for such a small little thang. Warm, tasty corn tortilla. The shrimp were panko crusted, I think I would have liked it better just sautéed.

Customer service was fine, not over the top, but friendly enough. I felt like the restaurant, although trendy, looked a bit tired. Aside from that though, the food was exceptional. Take your ass to this place. They do fusion right!

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  Sesame-chili shrimp taco.

  Sesame-chili shrimp taco.
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  Kimchi fries!

  Kimchi fries!

7/4/2015

Yesterday I tried this place as a late lunch after a day at the Shedd. My friends always talk about here and compare it to Bop n Grill, so I thought i would give it a try!

My sister ordered some type of fish taco and Kalbi taco. She seemed to like it! There were veggies on top of each with a nice mustard-like sauce on the fish taco.

My uncle ordered the shrimp taco, BBQ taco and kalbi taco. They all looked great and we're just the right portions.

However, I wouldn't say they are the best tacos in all of Chicago. They're easy to make, the tastes are all very unique and fun because of the fusion, but they're not incredibly fancy or anything. If you've never had Korean food, or tacos, or Korean food in tacos, I'm sure these will definitely excite your taste buds.

I ordered the bulgogi bahn mi and that was super yummy. The bread was a bit hard/crispier than others but it was fine. The bulgogi was marinated well and the jalapeños were no joke - definitely some real spiciness there. I wish they would've added a bit more meat in the sandwich though.

We also shared one order of kimchi fries - it's basically cheese, stirfried kimchi, French fries and basic seasoning. I enjoyed them, but I have to say that Bop n Grill's kimchi fries are way better.

It was a fun place to try - definitely one that deserves to be on the list, but it's more like although I wouldn't mind coming back, I'd rather hit bop n grill.

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  The bulgogi bahn mi

  The bulgogi bahn mi

7/6/2015

Del Seoul is amazing and I have been here way too frequently despite living in Hyde Park. It's a little pricey for what it is, but I never regret the purchases once I'm eating the food. They really hit the nail on the head for fusion food in Chicago. The shrimp tacos are hands down my favorite item on the menu - a must order for anyone coming to Del Seoul. The Kalbi poutine fries are what dreams are made of - perfect to share, or to eat all by yourself. Their entire menu is delicious but I beg you: get the shrimp taco.

It's one of those places where you order at a counter and sit down to eat, so it's fairly relaxed and generally pretty busy. You usually don't have to wait for a seat, however.

6/2/2015

The food here is awesome! We got sambal fish tacos and sesame-chili shrimp tacos. I like the shrimp one better. The fish and shrimp are fried with a bread shell outside, very tasty! The spicy tofu hotpot is good too but not that unique. It taste like usually tofu dish, but I do like the combination of soup, seafood, and tofu in one pot.
Kimchi Fries is a must try! The sourcream and sautéed kimchi fully covered the usually greesy taste of French fries. I couldn't stop eating them:)
I didn't give a five star b/c of the environment. The place is really small and crowded. It's hard to walk though the tables...and you can definitely hear every word from the neighboring table conversation indeed...

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  Tofu hotpot

  Tofu hotpot
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  Kimchi fries

  Kimchi fries
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  Fish tacos

  Fish tacos

4/24/2015

Another staple.

I've had the fish, kalbi, and shrimp tacos. The sesame-chili shrimp tacos are my favorite. The kimchi fried rice is good, too. Kalbi poutine is delicious and good for sharing. I like their seasoned fries, too, but I consider that an individual serving. Hey, I love my fries.

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  Kimchi fried rice

  Kimchi fried rice

6/21/2015

After ordering my food, the song Forever Young by Rush was playing and they had me right there.  That was a pretty popular new wave song back in the 80s when all the Asians were so into new wave music.  The music just hit the right tone.

As for the food, I ordered a tofu, fish, and shrimp taco.  Everything was tasty.  There wasn't one I liked better than the other.  I mean, it was pretty creative.  I knew how he made the secret slaw, it's a Korean way of dressing up lettuce as a banchan dish which I thought was clever.  It went really well with the shrimp.  As for the the fish, it was the freshest piece of filet that I tasted.  Lastly, I left the tofu for last and thought I would like it the least but I was wrong.  It was just as tasty in this green sauce they whipped up along to go with it.  I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and am so happy they're near my apartment.  Love their food.

4/9/2015

From a foodie's perspective, I would say the taste of food was worth three (3) stars.  Nevertheless, the chic and coolness factors were a solid four (4)-star quality.  

Before commencing on my review, I would like to ask you yelpers one thing.  Let's say that you are taking a walk on the street, and you see an Asian person passing by you.  Can you tell whether that person is Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, or some other unusual mixture of oriental heritages?  I can tell about 95% of time because I work in a retail environment, and I see more than 200 people per day in average.  In other words, I can profile people well because I can distinguish manners, gestures, and speeches among different races and ethnicities.

Food at Del Seoul, to me, is similar to a mixed child coming from a Korean dad and a Japanese-Vietnamese mom.  The entire family happens to live either in America or in Mexico.  Does that make any sense at all?  You can shout out "NO" and I wouldn't be offended.  

From what I have observed, they serve pan-Asian style food with a strong Korean emphasis.  With that being said, one shouldn't get too caught up with the authenticity of the food because pan-Asian cuisines are consisted of multiple origins.  To be honest, it's difficult to judge food like what I had this evening because I don't have anything to be based on.  

I had the bulgogi bento box, and hubby had the hot stone bimbibap.  They do have lots of vegetarian-friendly items, if meat isn't going to tickle your fancy.  

My bulgogi slices were tender, but the entire dish was a bit sweet for my palette.  I noticed hubby was quite diggin' the bimbibap he ordered.  The sauce also had a sweet undertone.  

I would say the food here has the city of Chicago "chic" factor.  The service we received was very friendly considering it's a "counter-service" type of establishment.

Overall, it's the right type of restaurant that matches to the neighborhood demographics (Lincoln Park).  I say it's also slightly pricer than a fast-food restaurant but less expensive than most full-service restaurants in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  We spent $29 and some change for two (2) entrees and two (2) fountain pops.  That's why Del Seoul has its own "niche" to rise above among other local restaurant businesses in the city of Chicago.

Hubby has come here twice already!  He's Italian, English, Irish, and Croatian, but I bet his tongue, stomach, and intestines were "borrowed" from an Asian man because he has too much love for Asian food!  For the sake of his happiness, we will be back.

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  Bulgogi bento box

  Bulgogi bento box
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  Hotstone bibimbap

  Hotstone bibimbap
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  Decor

  Decor

4/18/2015

I dropped in on a lovely Chicago spring afternoon Saturday.   Kind of off hours so it was not too packed around 4pm.  

Del Seoul is fusion korean food which I think is a happening trend that is sure to stick around.  The complex flavors of sweet, sour and savory are all present with many of the dishes.  

Casual atmosphere where you order at a counter with video boards displaying the menu, then get a number.   You could have a beer or sample some Asian soft drinks as well as the typical Coca Cola help yourself fountain.  

I've previously tried their burrito and the korean poutine fries, I enjoyed every bite.  The bento boxes seemed like a very generous portion of food - it should have filled me even in my college days when the motto was to consume mass quantity.  

I was walking by, looking for a snack.  Just was gonna order the fries with aioili, but I accepted the upsell challenge and went for the kimchee fries.  Del Seoul even sells their own jars of the fermented korean cabbage.  The kimchee had bits of pork belly and some crema cheese which was a great combination.  Texture of the fries was good and crisp as required.  
The portion was a bit disappointing though, figured I'd get a slightly larger portion for $6.95, but hey taste was there!  

I'll be back.  Good times.

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  kimchee pork belly fries with crema

  kimchee pork belly fries with crema

6/24/2015

Super super good! Great tacos with a little bit of flare but not over the top with weird toppings. It's supposed to be fast casual but everything looked so good we had to sit down and look at a menu for a couple minutes before going up to order. We had a few tacos- chicken, pork, & fish and steamed dumpling everything was fantastic and came out quickly. The pork taco was my favorite super flavorful and the meat was cooked just right. The fish was heavily battered but still good and I loved that it was haddock rather than tilapia which you normally find in the Midwest. Tacos are my absolute favorite food and Korean BBQ tacos are no exceptions. This place is an absolute must try for taco lovers!

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  Fish, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken. All delicious you can't go wrong with any of them!

  Fish, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken. All delicious you can't go wrong with any of them!

4/24/2015 Updated review

Grabbed carry out from Del Seoul.

Some of the best tacos I've ever had.

The fish tacos were my favorite.

4/13/2015

Del Seoul blew our minds last night. I'm literally picking my new apartment based on its proximity to this restaurant. If you think I am exaggerating, you either haven't been or you ordered the wrong thing. Or you're just delusional.

I've been a pescatarian for 5 years, but I can't resist a good chicken wing. Usually, I taste one and I'm like "eh, not as good as I remember." This one I tried and was like "THIS IS ALL I WANT TO EAT FOREVER." Seriously, out of this world. Spicy, sweet, sticky and perfectly crispy on the outside and very moist on the inside. Amazing.

The shrimp taco though stole the show for me. It was the PERFECT taco. The fish taco was delicious as well. A nice hunky piece of fish that resembled a twinkie and was so moist and fresh. All the food was fresh and hot which is also really wonderful.

MUST gets (in descending order of MUST get-ness): 1.) Sesame chili shrimp taco, 2.) K-town chicken wings, 3.) Sambal fish taco

Total cost of 4 tacos & wings: $28

Other things to note: This isn't a waiter service restaurant. I didn't know that before I went in. But, NO complaints here--just makes it more comfy when I go here by myself every day once I move.

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  Heavenly wings

  Heavenly wings
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  Left: fish tacos Right: shrimp & pork facos

  Left: fish tacos Right: shrimp & pork facos

5/26/2015

My last Chicago review, au revoir Chicago! My friend suggested this place for my farewell lunch. Loved the shrimp tacos, forget about the others (I also tried the short rib tacos, but they paled in comparison to the shrimp). Had a taste of my friend's dumplings, but I'm not a fan of dumplings in the first place and these tasted a bit dry to me, lacked flavor and seemed a bit bland. You must get the poutine!!! It's heavenly and has a ton of meat...melt in your mouth deliciousness! I was not expecting one of the best poutines I've ever had to come out of a Korean taco place, but pleasantly surprised. I would totally come back and order just shrimp tacos and poutine and stuff myself silly. Great, friendly service too.

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  Short rib and shrimp tacos, messy but delicious!

  Short rib and shrimp tacos, messy but delicious!

8/13/2015

I absolutely love this place. It's a great place for college students because you don't have to worry about splitting the check-- instead you order and your food is served to you. The Kalbi poutine is probably the best item on the menu, but I also love their banh mi. Anything you get here is sure to be good!

7/22/2015

I am from Michigan - some friends who live in the city had us try Del Seoul while there for a weekend and now I crave them!  I had the chili shrimp, kalbi, and pork tacos.  The slaw adds an awesome crunch and the meat is full of flavor.   We ordered kimchi fried rice to split - which was not exceptional, due to the overcooked egg on top.  However, for the tacos alone this place gets 5 stars.  Will frequent this place every time i'm in Chicago.

5/27/2015

One of my favorite places to go in Lincoln Park! This is a casual korean fusion affair, and if you come expecting this you will be happy.
Del
I always order a shrimp and kalbi taco with gamja fries on the side. The beef is very flavorful and compliments the crisp and refreshing slaw on top. Likewise for the shrimp, which is deep fried in a batter with a tangy aioli. Fries are normal, but the seasoning makes it a tad bit different.

This is a great place after a day at the zoo. You can pair the place with Molly's Cupcake right on the block for perfect dessert to compliment Del Seoul!

7/27/2015

BEST TOFU TACOS EVER! The sauce that they put on the taco is AMAZING and the veggies are super refreshing with the blackened tofu. The vegetarian hot bowl is also good, but go easy with the red sauce. It is really potent.

I don't pass out 5 stars often, but this is well deserved!

5/7/2015

I've been to Del Seoul twice now - the first was on St. Patty's Day when they were slammed and they basically forgot my order. Which was the shrimp bahn mi, and when it did finally come it was delicious. The second time, I ordered the k-town wings with sticky rice and kimchi. WOW am I glad I came back! Highly recommended.

Seating is first come, first served and really casual. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. You get your own drinks, and bus your own table at the end of the meal. If you need anything else though, service is pretty friendly.

8/10/2015

I've been stuck on Asian fusion lately so Del Seoul was a must try. Might I say, it was pretty damn yummy. I ordered wings, tacos, and kimchi fries, and nothing disappointed. The wings were juicy and that sauce was tasty with just the right amount of kick. The fish, kalbi, and tofu tacos were all amazing (not crazy on tofu but one of the employees recommended it so I said screw it and took it on. lots of flavor, thanks dude!) the kimchi fries were great but I was sold on the wings and tacos. All the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I will definitely be back again!

5/3/2015

Overall: Lunch Review: Fantastic food at a reasonable price, Del Seoul is a great lunch or takeout or quick dinner option.

The good: The food is fantastic. Lots of tacos to choose from and great tasting meats and toppings. The bipimbop is also fantastic. I'm sure all the other offerings are great as well. Serves beer. The atmosphere is clean and the music was trendy.

The bad: Not much, the restaurant was a little cold.

Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Food: 10/10

1/17/2015

I've got a thing for fish tacos. Blackened. Grilled. Tempura. You name it. There's just something so delicious about a light and well-cooked piece of fish wrapped in a soft tortilla and loaded with zesty aioli and plenty of crisp lettuces.

But Del Seoul broadened my seafood taco horizons. Here, my heart belongs to the Sesame-Chili Shrimp Taco.  Hand-battered panko shrimp is piled into a warm white corn tortilla along with toasted sesames, cilantro-onion relish, slaw and sesame-chili aioli. It's sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy and perfectly chewy all at once. Above all, though, it's just really fulfilling - the best taco I've ever had.

Prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is relaxed and the menu includes an array of Korean-fusion street foods making Del Seoul a fitting choice for Taco Tuesday or any other day of the week.

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  Sesame-Chili Shrimp, Sambal Fish and Blackened Tofu tacos (l to r)

  Sesame-Chili Shrimp, Sambal Fish and Blackened Tofu tacos (l to r)

7/30/2015

The food here is solid for the price. The best thing off the menu is the bulgogi bibimbap but the recently featured spicy chicken platter is not far off at all at second.

Its a casual joint but the service is really fast and efficient, rarely any mistakes in the time I've been a regular.

12/10/2014

Not to be confused with the early 90's hip hop group, Del Soul drops the hits on the Koren food front, and Me, Myself, and I youtube.com/watch?v=FJEz… are absolutely in love them!

The street food sensation features tacos, banh mi sandos, rice bowls, and other sharables for super cheap. I'm talkin' two people for under twenty bucks cheap, and that doesn't mean you're eating kibble. They do delicious hand-battered panko shrimp, grilled beef short rib, chicken with Korean red pepper marinade, and of course kimchi.

There's no bar or booze but at over 1000 reviews and 4 stars strong it's pretty obvious that people love this place. You can either get there or miss out on the creation of kalbi poutine.

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  Dumplings

  Dumplings
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  Miso

  Miso
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  Shrimp kalbi chicken

  Shrimp kalbi chicken

4/30/2015

I strongly believe that the price, customer service, food quality, and location of Del Seoul to be one of the best. We didn't dine in, but I believe it might be BYOB (don't take my word for it).

I'll have to update you all next time we decide to take in the whole experience and eat our food there.

Cheers!

11/29/2014 Updated review

After craving it for some time, I finally made it back to Del Seoul. This time I tried the shrimp taco with flour tortilla substitute. I'm not sure if I'm just imagining it, but I feel like they give you more filling with the flour tortilla since its wider, so it's worth the extra 25 cents extra on the flour tortillas substitute.

The shrimp as delicious. Flavored perfectly, with the perfect chewyness.

4/4/2015

Overall I was pretty happy with this place. It was packed when we went in on an early Saturday afternoon but we were able to find a table right after we ordered. Here's was we got...

Kalbi Poutine - This was pretty good, but the more I ate it the more I lost interest. I wish the meat was more Korean style and not like a shredded stew meat. And I wish it had more spice. I can tell this is a popular item because a lot of people were ordering it. But next time I come here I'll probably try the kimchi fries instead.

K-Town Wings - I really liked this! They've got a great sauce and are super crispy with a little kick. They tell you that it takes 12-15 minutes to prepare, but it's worth the wait!

Sambal Fish Tacos - These were excellent! I was really impressed by how well the fish was cooked and the samba slaw really made it a great dish. I decided to get corn tortillas instead of the flour, but that's just my personal preference. I'm looking forward to ordering these again and trying some of their other tacos.

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  Sambas Fish Tacos - Excellent!

  Sambas Fish Tacos - Excellent!
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  Poutine Fries

  Poutine Fries
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4/11/2015

I'm not into Mexican food but the idea of fusion korean/mexican is AMAZING

First of all, the price is sooo reasonable with the perfect portions. The food is very tasty and solid. It's a unique place and I've never had anything like it.

Lastly,  I can always come back here and try everything they have. I especially love thier Kimchi fries. It's like nacho and salsa. But fries and kimchi stuff instead, who wouldn't love that idea?

Ugh. I'm getiimg hungry just talking about all of these!

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  Bulgogi bentobox

  Bulgogi bentobox
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  Bulgogi bentobox

  Bulgogi bentobox
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  Korean Tacos

  Korean Tacos
• See all photos from Cristina C. for Del Seoul

7/22/2015

Had take-out fish and meat tacos. Was a wonderful combo of flavors and textures. Tortillas were fresh as was the fish and toppings. As far as take-out tacos, they did a great job. Good packaging worthy for leftovers.

Will come back!

4/26/2015

Been here multiple times and have loved it each time.
I've had the bulgogi bento box, the bulgogi banh mi, the kalbi poutine and the bibimbop. Loved each and every one of the items. I've never had to wait for a seat the the food comes out pretty quickly. I'll definitely be back to try some of the other items like the tacos and kimchi fries.

8/7/2015

The shrimp taco is one of my favorite. Whenever I am in this part of the town I make it a point to go here.

3/23/2015

Del Seoul is an excellent little Korean fusion restaurant. You order at the counter, grab your utensils, and then the staff brings it out hot. It's small, clean, and appears to stay pretty busy. I had the Shrimp, Kalbi, and Spicy BBQ Pork tacos. They were all delicious but I'd have to say the Shrimp tacos were, surprisingly, my favorite. I tried the Veggie Bibimbop too and that was very, very tasty and fresh. I wish I lived closer because I'd love to go here regularly. I'd really like to try the Bento Box meals, their Kalbi "Poutine," and those wings!

If you're ever in this area of Clark, you should definitely try Del Seoul. You won't be disappointed!

11/19/2014

Super low-key, no frills place, so if you're looking for a high end restaurant, stop reading. However, you will regret trying the food.........

One of the best Korean tacos I've had! It's a hike to walk here from the CTA, but it was well worth the walk. The three of us split the Sesame-Chili Shrimp, Kalbi and Spicy BBQ Pork tacos because we wanted to try a few. They were all amazing and had great flavors. We also got right pieces of pork dumplings (not bad) and the kimchi fries. Get the kimchi fries, they are a must.

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• See all photos from Toulaphone C. for Del Seoul

6/25/2015 Updated review

Another visit and another great experience.  Kalbi poutine is a must-get, just nice collection of flavors.  Shrimp and pork tacos both tasty.  We ventured out and got the Spicy Pork Banh Mi sandwich.  The meat was good quality, but the concept of Banh Mi just didn't impress me much, I think there needed to be a bit more sauce and the pickled vegetables are an acquired taste.  We also tried the K-Town chicken wings.  The soy/chili/garlic glaze was a nice combo, but I don't think worth the $9.50 price tag for 8 pieces.

5/17/2015

I love this place!

I had both the shrimp and breaded fish taco and they are soooo tasty!

I also had the Kalbi bento box. It came with the Kalbi, rice, and salad. The salad was great and the Kalbi...well...I are it all!

I'll be back to try some other things for sure.

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  Sambal Fish Taco

  Sambal Fish Taco
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  Kalbi Bento Box

  Kalbi Bento Box

11/23/2014

So what is there to say about this place that hasn't already been said.  Pretty doggone good is the assessment.  In an area with relatively stiff competition, Del Seoul easily holds its own.  

The shrimp taco was amazing and saw was the fish taco.  The spicy chicken bulgogi was great, although I thought the meat could have been a tad warmer.

This place is foodgasm city.  Stop denying yourself and get there!

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  Dining area

  Dining area
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  Front counter

  Front counter

8/6/2015

What can I say that hasn't already been said?

The shrimp taco is really good. Eat it. Actually, eat two.
The fish taco is also really good. You should eat it too.

The only downside is that I wish Del Seoul was open later.

5/13/2015

Fish taco is a must... As per usual.

I love their fries with all the works (not the kimchi one). Except, too much sour cream(?) and pickled onion. I'll have to inquire about lessening such ingredients next time (keep point: there will be a next time for you, fries!!)

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  Bulgogi pento box

  Bulgogi pento box
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  Fish tacos. Stinks, but worth it

  Fish tacos. Stinks, but worth it
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  Kali poutine w/ sour cream and pickled onions on the side

  Kali poutine w/ sour cream and pickled onions on the side
• See all photos from M M. for Del Seoul

5/25/2015

This was a great place if your in the city and looking for some GOOD Korean food/BBQ. I love when the server takes time to answer any questions and provide suggestions. We started off with one shrimp and one kalbi taco. Both were great. We also ordered the kalbi poutine. This was the best dish we had all night, just perfect. Good for 2 people to share. Finally, we got the kalbi box. (Kalbi, rice and salad) this was a great trip, meat came out sizzling on a hot plate.

Service was great, food was great, and the price was right. Avg 15$ a person. I would highly recommend this place.

6/13/2015

Back home, I had never heard of Korean bbq tacos so I was leery about trying del seoul, but it's easily my favorite place for a quick bite. I usually go with my bf and get 1 of each taco. along with pot stickers or a bento box

9/25/2014

Kimchi fries. Get those. Topped with onions and pork belly. Also, get the kalbi poutine. My favorite. Had delicious short rib and cheeses.

I also tried one of their tacos with the sesame chili shrimp. This was so yummy! I loved this place. I want to try more things!

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  Kimchi fries and the kalbi poutine. Deliciousness!

  Kimchi fries and the kalbi poutine. Deliciousness!

6/8/2015

I got the kalbi tacos and they were super good. The steak had a nice flavor and the coleslaw on top really brought that flavor out. My boyfriend had the kalbi box dinner and it came out on a hot plate and it was pretty cool.

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  Kalbi box dinner

  Kalbi box dinner
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  Kalbi tacos

  Kalbi tacos

10/30/2014

Kalbi Poutine. That's all you need to know. This was my first time back after a few years and they've added a few things to the menu. Kalbi Poutine was one of them. I shared it with a friend and both of us scarfed it down within minutes and openly wished we weren't sharing with each other. It was seriously the best poutine I've ever had. Fries smothered with heaps of their special beef gravy, seasoned crema (tasted like sour cream only better), and lots of chunks of kalbi. Topped with pickled onions. I'm drooling all over my keyboard.

After I ate/snorted the poutine I ate my tacos. I got the sesame-chili shrimp and BBQ pork. They were good but not mindblowing (hence the 4 stars). They taste like how I remember them years ago, so I'm glad they've stayed consistent. I've had the kimchi fries and bibimbap here and both were good, too. Next time I'm going to order the chicken wings and poutine and share with nobody.

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  Kalbi Poutine

  Kalbi Poutine

7/15/2015

Being Korean myself and growing up eating Korean food my entire life, I am always a little skeptical about "fast casual Korean food". Other places have tried and they usually tend to come up short. I am happy to say that Del Seoul exceeded my expectations.

The pricing is reasonable and the "tacos", while not exactly Korean, are excellent! The galbi is as good as you would get at a higher priced Korean restaurant. Highly recommended.

3/25/2015

I took my husband here after a co-worker gave me a sample fish taco.  Good god almighty, they're amazing.  So amazing, I had to share. We went in on a Saturday afternoon, stood in a quick moving line, and ordered 2 shrimp, 2 fish, and 2 kalbi tacos, 1 fountain drink and one hot tea - Citron ??  Service was very quick, the place is well organized, if crowded, and as long as you know you're in for an order at the counter experience, it works.

Bottom line, the fish and shrimp tacos are 5+ stars, as was the hot tea, which had fresh lemon shreds at the bottom.  It WAS sweet, but they advertise it that way, and I loved it.  The kalbi tacos were disappointing - the meat was a bit tough and not as tasty as I would have liked.   We didn't try anything else, but probably will sample the dumplings next time.

And there will be a next time.

8/1/2015

Food was good but there are much better options for tacos in Chicago. It didn't taste that much different than pork tacos I would get from a Mexican place. The poutine fries were also slightly disappointing for the price point.

1/25/2015

Visited here a few times in the past but never reviewed. With that said, one of my favorite places!! Korean-Mexican fusion at its best.

The shrimp tacos are fantastic and happen to be my favorite. However, you can't go wrong with the chicken or beef tacos. Tremendous flavor. I've also had the kimchi fries and dumplings which are equally delicious.

Walk up to the counter, order your food, take a seat. Consistently great tasting food, you won't be disappointed.

7/20/2015

these tacos i like. this place is more korean than mexican and you can see this on how they prepare their tacos. ive been to chicago 3 times in the last year and i think ive been here every single time. food comes out fast enough. i also had their spicy seafood hot pot (during the winter) and although it took a bit longer than anything else, it sure was good, warmed me up and you cant beat the price.

4/8/2015

A little gem in Lincoln Park.
An excellent lunch spot for the Korean connoisseurs and novices alike.
Kalbi tacos and Kimchi fries are musts.
Beers and wine served.

4/23/2015

I recently became a fan of Korean fusion food, and the Korean-Mexican dishes have continued to surprise my palette. Who knew Korean food and spices can be so deliciously adapted into different cuisines?

I got the galbi and shrimp tacos, both of which were really good. We also got an order of the galbi fries, which was yummy but I think I would ask for more pickles because the cheese/sour cream sauce is sometimes overwhelming. If you go for lunch, the bento boxes are also really filling.

Del Seoul is also in a hip part of the city that is great to walk around in.

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  galbi fries

  galbi fries

6/27/2015

Perfect for a snack or meal. Fish, shrimp and kalbi beef tacos were yummy. Add the flavored fries and that was enough to hold me over to dinner.

They also have main course meals to fill you up for those with a Korean appetite!

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  Fries! Great sauce!

  Fries! Great sauce!
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  Shrimp and Kalbi Taco

  Shrimp and Kalbi Taco
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  Fish Tacos

  Fish Tacos

2/27/2015

Del Seoul serves up some damn good fusion food.

Incredible shrimp tacos (make a point to get their fantastic fried shrimp in some form or another!), great kalbi tacos, and I can never resist a side of the craveable kimchi fries. Kimchi must be one of the most underutilized ingredients there is, why don't more people do this? It's such a good and simple idea.

Would skip the sandwiches and bowls, they're good but the carb-to-protein/tasty stuff ratio is a lot better with the tacos!

8/22/2014

With the kitchen closing in less than 15 minutes, my friend and I rushed to find parking so we can grab a late dinner at Del Soul before it closes. Parking was easy to find since it was a late Wednesday night. We only had to pay for parking until 10 PM and it was $2/hour.

You have to order first before you sit down with your order number and wait for the staff to bring it to you. We got 2 orders of tacos each. I got the kalbi and spicy bbq pork taco with an order of the kimchi fries. 4 tacos and the fries + tax and tip came out to $22. It is a pretty good deal for a dinner for 2 people.

I don't remember the difference between the kalbi and spicy bbq pork but they were both very yummy. I didn't think it was spicy at all and had to put a little bit of Sriracha to give it a little kick.

The kimchi fries came out a little later than the tacos and I wished it came earlier so I could have eaten it with the tacos. The fries were delicious, although they may have put on a bit too much sour cream on the fries. I really like the blend between the fries and the kimchi. It is definitely shareable and I don't think I would have been able to finish it by myself.

I would definitely come back! Kitchen closes at 9:30 but you can sit and eat a little bit longer.